WBC Daily: A Historic Loss For Cuba; Canada Reaches Quarterfinals

Team USA can only wait to see whether its campaign continues, or whether its MLB superstars are going back to their respective spring trainings. It’s the final day of World Baseball Classic pool play, and the final quarterfinal spots are being set. Recapping Wednesday’s action. JUMP TO: Canada In, Cuba Out | USA Awaits Italy-Mexico Winner Canada Wins Pool A; Cuba’s First-Round Exit Ever Canada advanced past the first round of the World Baseball Classic for the first time, beating Cuba 7-2 Wednesday in a winner-take-all game at San Juan, Puerto Rico, behind Abraham Toro’s homer and Otto Lopez’s two-run single. Cuba was knocked out in the first round for the first time. Brothers Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor drove in runs, Owen Caissie had two RBIs and reliever James Paxton struck out six over 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Canada (3-1), which eliminated the Cubans (2-2) and won Group A over Puerto Rico (3-1). Canada and Puerto Rico will play quarterfinals in Houston this weekend. Mexico Takes On Italy; USA Awaits Fate Team USA’s dream team faces the possibility of getting knocked out in the first round. They await the winner of Wednesday’s Pool B finale between Italy and Mexico. After Italy pulled off the upset against the USA in Tuesday’s game, the Azzurri will look to beat Mexico to clinch Pool B. Meanwhile, Mexico (who lost to the USA on Monday) will try to keep its hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals alive. If the Italy-Mexico game goes nine innings and Mexico wins and scores five or more runs, the USA is out and Mexico advances. Mexico winning while scoring four or fewer also keeps the USA out.​Catching up on all day’s action from the World Baseball Classic.